Kenya becomes first country to debut generic HIV drug

Kenya becomes first country to debut generic HIV drug

A new generic version of a frontline antiretroviral drug launches in Kenya today, the first time that HIV patients will have access to the more affordable version of the treatment.

Dolutegravir, or DTG, will be available to patients through a partnership between the Kenyan Ministry of Health and Geneva-based Unitaid. DTG has been the preferred first-line treatment in the United States and Canada since 2014, a year after it came onto the market.

Although some patients on the continent have accessed the more expensive version, the affordability of the generic DTG will be a “game changer” in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, said Robert Matiru, Unitaid director of operations.

Prior to the current introduction, Kenyan patients paid $50-$60 for a 30-day supply pack. This generic version costs about $4 a pack.